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#1
Sep 15, 2014, 04:12 PM
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I have a small business and my secretary wears a lot of perfume. It really upsets me because I feel like I'm wearing her perfume. She hands me papers and they all smell like perfume. Each time she walks into my office I get another cloud of perfume. Sometimes I can almost taste it.
There are other people in our office and the perfume doesn't bother anybody else. I've tried to hint indirectly that perfume bothers me without singling out anybody. Obviously if I was more healthy psychologically I could probably cope with the perfume like everybody else. Generally, I get very angry when another person's freedom treads on my environment: a loud car stereo, a neighbor's BBQ odors, my secretary's perfume. I'm the one with the problem, so I suppose I should just keep my mouth shut - right? I've wondered if hypnosis would help? |
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#2
Sep 15, 2014, 04:31 PM
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You would be completely in the right to ask her not to wear perfume since it's your business. Most businesses will have a sign that states something like, out of consideration for others, please do not wear perfume...or you can mention allergies.
A lot of people are sensitive to perfume, so I'm sure you're not the only one that is bothered by it. It may just be easier for them to stand it, if they are in and out of there. |
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#3
Sep 15, 2014, 04:42 PM
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I'm really sensitive to perfumes. That working environment would make me ill! Do you have customers come in to the office where they would be near her? If so, you could always talk to all of the employees and tell them that you're going to be a scent-free environment due to customer complaints.
__________________
"The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things. Of shoes, of ships, of sealing wax, of cabbages, of kings! Of why the sea is boiling hot, of whether pigs have wings..." "I have a problem with low self-esteem. Which is really ridiculous when you consider how amazing I am. |
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#4
Sep 16, 2014, 06:27 AM
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Thanks, everybody.
 I discussed this with my mother who also spends some time in the office and she thinks I am imagining things. It doesn't bother anybody else.Even if I'm being silly, I think I need to find a way to explain this problem to my secretary without offending her. It's hard for me to be friendly to her lately, because her perfume bothers me so much. I can't credibly blame it on customer complaints unfortunately. I've just got to admit that it bothers me even if I'm the only one it bothers.
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 tealBumblebee
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#5
Sep 16, 2014, 06:43 AM
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maybe its just the kind she is wearing, could you ask her to see if she could change the kind?
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 tealBumblebee
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#6
Sep 16, 2014, 09:02 AM
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Quote:
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#7
Sep 16, 2014, 09:39 AM
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You say it's an encroachment on your freedom but wouldn't asking her to stop wearing it be an encroachment on hers? Just something to think about. There's no good direct way of telling her but if its really bothering you I would maybe send out a company email stating some updates on policy or reminders about correct uniform including the overuse of personal products like makeup or perfume. If that doesn't work maybe hold a brief staff meeting to say that your allergies are getting worse and that whoevers wearing a lot of perfume needs to use a bit less.
I'm autistic and very sensitive to smells but I wear perfume because its comforting and helps me to feel less anxious when out and about - maybe she has similar reasons? I hope you manage to sort this situation out for the best. |
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#8
Sep 16, 2014, 10:08 AM
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Hello x123, this is your business so you can do what you want. There are many work places that do not allow staff to wear strong smells. You could use the 'health and safety' issue if you feel you need to give a reason. For example, smells contaminating food or it could cause someone to have an asthma attack etc. Or you could come up with a compromise and just ask if she could wear a perfume that is less stinky!
__________________
 Pegasus Got a quick question related to mental health or a treatment? Ask it here General Q&A Forum “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid.” - Albert Einstein |
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#9
Sep 17, 2014, 03:10 AM
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It seems to me there is a common phrase that applies here, something about a soft word turning away wrath? Specifically, you might want to mention to your secretary that you enjoy the scents she wears, but their strength is a little overpowering for you. You could then ask her to try to use less perfume and see if that helps. This way you aren't expressing a negative judgment about her fragrance quality; you're just asking for an adjustment in quantity.
If you still can't stand being around her, you might need to ask her to stop wearing perfume altogether. There isn't anything picky or silly about asking her to make a concession so you are able to work with her without holding your breath. Maybe she just isn't good at judging how much scent she puts on, or maybe it is that particular fragrances are harder for you to tolerate, but your comfort at work is certainly at least as important as her freedom to wear perfume! |
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